King of Athens, father of the hero Theseus. When young Theseus arrived in Athens after proving himself a hero by clearing the coast road of bandits, Aegeus did not recognize him. The king's wife, Medea, persuaded him to serve Theseus poison wine at a banquet. The hero might have died had his father not noticed the distinctive pattern on his sword. It was the very sword that Aegeus had hidden beneath a boulder years previously for his son to find.

Aegeus was legendarily king of Athens, although be lived well before the time when its citadel was crowned by impressive monuments like the Parthenon in this picture. (zoom)